http://www.care2.com/greenliving/mood-menders.html
Mood Menders
By Colleen K. Dodt, Natural Solutions
Feeling weary or down in the dumps? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a psychological boost. The fragrance of essential oils may be just the pick-me-up you need.
It’s common knowledge that smell effects how we feel. What we consider as “good” smells can lift our spirits, while “bad” smells can drag us down or even agitate us. In fact, the French word sentir means “to smell” and “to feel.” We tend to “feel” scents rather than logically process them—understanding them more through associations and images than by analytical methods. This is because the human brain processes smells in its limbic region, which appears to be primarily responsible for our emotions. Interestingly, the limbic system is often called the rhinencephalon or “smell part” of the brain. Several studies show that emotion and odors are directly linked and have been found to produce some of the same electrical impulses.
Essential oils contain natural phytochemicals that impact the limbic system. When you inhale the scent of an oil, the brain releases various neurochemicals to create physiological changes in body, mind and spirit. When you smell lavender, for example, serotonin gets released, producing a calming influence in the body.
Pure essential oils are extracted directly from plant parts, including flowers, leaves, stems and roots, as well as the rind of their fruits. Outside of their direct healing properties these oils simply smell good, make us feel happier and serve as great stress and pain relievers. The easiest and most common way to benefit from their essence is through aromatherapy—placing a few drops of diluted oil directly on your skin and inhaling the aroma. (Note: always cut the essential oil with a base oil—see suggestions below.) Or you can add drops to your bath or to a special aromatherapy diffuser, which heats the oil and allows the smell to permeate the room. Choose from a multitude of oils, ranging from bergamot (Citrus bergamia), which has a balancing effect, to sandalwood (Santalum album), which is known for its sensuous properties.
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16 comments
add your comment »it's probably hermes... lancome, from what i know uses pretty nasty ingredients
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I agree with Nadia, how do you know they are real essential oils ? I remember watching a documentary many years ago about this American factory that produces synthetically all the fragrances you can dream of, and that most of the famous perfumes around the world, including Chanel No 5 for instance, all use those synthetic oils to make their blends. I think I remember there was only one famous brand (at the time, and that was several years ago) which still used real natural oils made in the South of France, I think it was either Lancome or Hermes, but it's a shame I can't remember which one.
But what I do know is that I can't bear to pass in front one of those candle and soap and incense shops, when their doors are opened, and you get a huge whiff of artificial smells, it's really sickening, and the Body Shop too is one of them. Phew! What a stink!
What I like to do, since forever, when I see a flower is always to stick my nose right into it! Sometimes I come out with a yellow or red nose from the pollen, but at least I get some real beautiful natural fragrance, and the King or Queen of them all is the Lotus flower. If you have smelled a lotus flower in bloom you will understand why Buddhism uses it as a symbol of eternal bliss and paradise and heaven. It truly smells like heaven. Does anyone know if we can buy essential oil of lotus ? If so, it must be worth its weight in gold, it is that good!
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Tangerine oil cheers me up - clary sage sends me to sleep - I work in oils everyday as a qualified aromatherapist
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Thank you for this section on aromatherapy. As a practicing aromatherapist it is wonderful knowing I am not the only one able to share this fantastic modality.
Be Well~~
Dorin :o)
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NADIA:
It depends on where you live, of course, but I am certain most cities would have at least a single "natural health" store offering pure essential oils. (My long-time personal favourites are the EO produced by the German company called "Primavera".)
The internet is a very good source to find and buy high quality EO. There are also many very good books that can help you with locating good brands.
Good luck!
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STEVEN (et al.), regarding the question whether EO work for people without the sense of smell:
Yes, they do. Well, some of them, anyway (I don't think all that much research has been done - or at least published - into this particular aspect).
Alas, they may not necessarily impact your MOOD (which is the point of the article) - but many of their other therapeutic qualities remain unaltered.
There are, for example, certain EO that work as potent aphrodisiacs if you apply them (diluted) directly to the mucous membranes of the (female) genital organs. You don't smell them, but they work - oh, how they work...! ;-)
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Love it! Thanks Mel!
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This article vertually has real science and is highly educative.Many esswntial oils are known attractants. They have soothing effect on the brain.These are highly volatile substances and their fragrances travel very fast.That is why,their smell can be perceived even from a long distance.The organs of smell are highly developed in animals which can not utilize other organs effectively for perceiving the stimuli,for example, in dogs and insects.If these are used to attract the opposite sex these act as aphrodisiacs.Some essential oils act as repellents also.Odomas, perhapes was the first repellent used for repelling mosquitoes and had essential oil as one of the constituents. These oils have great application not only for human beings but for other animals also.
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This article is vertually has scientific background and is highly educative.many esswntial oils are known attractants. They have soothing effect on the brain.These are highly volatile substances and their fragrances travel very fastly.That is why ,their their smell can be perceived even from a long distance.The organs of smell are highly developed in animals which can utilize other organs less for the perceiving of stimuli.For example in dogs and insects.If these are used to attract the opposite sex these act as aphrodisiacs.Some essential oils act as repellents also.Odomas, perhapes the first repellent used for repelling mosquitoes also had essential oil.
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Thanks !!!
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